So I listed a vacant apartment on Zillow.

Used the usual prescreening questionnaire to screen out the unqualified.

The result : 4 qualified candidates.

Now the question -

One applicant asked - "What can I do to make sure I get this apartment "

I think this is a good question to explore as we continue through this pandemic ordeal.

So what would you say ?

I said we have several interested and qualified candidates. And I will choose the most qualified based on the property and those already in the property.

Thanks

On my 35th year and manage in 2 states

New residents are selected by their merits and qualifications.

Not by who calls or applies first.

Applying is it not a race or a guarantee of being selected, it’s a comparative process.

Typically, there are a good number of folks interested in renting year-round, some markets are completive.

The application is your introduction to the Owners.

Owners also want to select someone based on the factual side from the public records checks.

Your demeanor and the discussions we have are some of the subjective elements considered, attitude and language and actions are others, just like a first date.

To to select an applicant: Fair Housing Council & HUD, wrote, to clarify the process, in part:

'Although we recommend that landlords accept the first qualified applicant', ‘fair housing law does not define qualified and does not require the landlord accept the first person.’

'Landlords are allowed to adopt whatever method (criteria) of picking a qualified applicant.'.... (As long as it is not discriminatory and it is used for all. 'Landlords have the liberty of accepting applications' and 'screening through them for the one they choose’.

Discrimination: Fair Housing Council & HUD.

It is not found automatically when one person is treated differently from others.

Discrimination is found or arises only when one person is treated differently from others because of that person's ‘membership’ in a protected category, that is, because of their race, gender, religion, etc.

DnB,

MY reply: How much rent are you willing to pay and how many months in advance can you pay?

Still screen normally.

Question: how deep are you screening if you already have 4 qualified? My screening is 21 steps.